And just like that, Ipswich Town’s FA Cup journey is over for the season.
Kieran McKenna’s side made short work of Bristol Rovers in the Third Round and demolished Coventry City in the Fourth, but eventually fell to Nottingham Forest on penalties in the Fifth last night.
However, despite the stark difference in their Premier League position, the Tractor Boys managed to put up a good fight and scored the opening goal of the encounter through George Hirst.
Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town
Forest
Statistics
Ipswich
1
Goals
1
54%
Possession
46%
1
Big Chances
0
22
Total Shots
11
4
Shots on Target
4
11
Corners
2
567
Passes
502
All Stats via Sofascore
That said, it still wasn’t enough, and while there were several encouraging performances from the men in blue, there were more than a few poor ones as well, including from a starter who should be dropped for the next game.
Ipswich’s lacklustre performers
There were a few starters from last night’s clash who were not as effective as some of their other teammates.
Massimo-Luongo-ipswich-town
For example, while he was busy on the pitch, Massimo Luongo looked, as the East Anglian Daily Times’ Alex Jones put it, ‘a little off the pace.’
The Australian midfielder received a 5/10 match rating from the journalist, and, based on his statistics from the game, it’s not hard to see why, as in 67 minutes of action, he lost 100% of his aerial duels, committed two fouls, lost the ball five times, failed in 100% of his dribbles and lost four of six ground duels.
Luongo’s game in numbers
Minutes
67′
Aerial Duels (Won)
2 (0)
Ground Duels (Won)
6 (2)
Fouls
2
Lost Possession
5
Dribbles (Successful)
2 (0)
All Stats via Sofascore
Just ahead of him in midfield, Jack Taylor also had a rather middling night at the City Ground.
He also picked up a 5/10 rating from Jones, who wrote that he was ‘surprisingly quiet’ and responsible for a ‘couple of sloppy passes.’
Moreover, the Irishman missed his penalty and produced some underwhelming statistics to boot.
In his 120 minutes of football, the 26-year-old completed just 73% of his passes, misplaced three of five crosses, was accurate in one of three long balls, failed to take a shot on or off target, failed in 100% of his dribbles, lost five of seven ground duels, lost the ball 18 times and was dribbled past once.
Taylor’s game in numbers
Minutes
120′
Passing Accuracy
29/40 (73%)
Long Balls (Accurate)
3 (1)
Crosses (Accurate)
5 (2)
Shots on Target
0
Shots off Target
0
Ground Duels (Won)
7 (2)
Lost Possession
18
Dribbles (Successful)
2 (0)
Dribbled Past
1
All Stats via Sofascore
Unfortunately for McKenna, he had another 5/10 performance from one of his starters last night, a starter who should be dropped for the next game.
The Ipswich ace who should be dropped
Alongside Taylor and Luongo, it would be fair to say that Nathan Broadhead was one of Ipswich’s most disappointing players last night.
Nathan Broadhead
The talented Welshman looked somewhat lost at times and utterly ineffective at others, and he fully deserved the 5/10 match rating he received from Jones.
The journalist wrote that the 26-year-old attacker ‘lacked his usual spark’ and was guilty of holding ‘onto the ball for too long,’ losing it ‘in advanced areas,’ and ultimately not ‘taking his opportunity.’
Broadhead’s game in numbers
Minutes
67′
Touches
35
Passing Accuracy
9/16 (56%)
Long Balls (Accurate)
Unsurprisingly, while harsh, this opinion is more than backed up in the statistics, as in his 67 minutes of action, he took just 35 touches – 29 fewer than Alex Palmer – completed 56% of his passes, failed in 100% of his dribbles, lost the ball 16 times, was dribbled past twice, lost seven of 11 duels and took just one shot on target.
So, if Broadhead should be taken out of the starting lineup for the next game, who should start in his place?
Well, based on the last few weeks, we reckon it should be Jack Clarke.
The former Sunderland star has undoubtedly had a tough time adapting to life at Portman Road, but since the turn of the year, he has looked substantially more dangerous.
For example, the sometimes “unplayable” winger, as dubbed by pundit Adrian Clarke, has produced eight goal involvements in 26 games for Ipswich this season, but crucially, six of those have come since the turn of the year and three of those in the last round of the FA Cup.
Ultimately, with survival still a possibility this season, McKenna has to be ruthless, and when you consider their recent form, dropping Broadhead for Clarke makes perfect sense for Ipswich.
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